Health visitors struggling with ‘dangerously high’ caseloads

Health visitors are struggling to care for families properly because they have “dangerously high” workloads in which some are looking after as many as 829 children, a study shows.

Falling numbers of health visitors mean that in most parts of England they are now looking after more – often many more – under-fives than the recommended maximum 250.

The findings have prompted warnings that health visitors are so busy that they may fail to spot child abuse, domestic violence and postnatal depression and have too little time to help mothers bond with their babies.

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We are an independent pressure group that campaigns to protect and improve the NHS, keeping it true to its founding principles.

We are a voluntary organisation, not allied to any political party and funded by supporters from the health professions and the general public. We have been campaigning in support of the NHS since 1989.

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